Re: advice needed

On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:59:58 -0500, jag5274
<jag5274.34moe5@no-mx.wirelessforums.org> wrote:

>I am attempting to make my own extension cables for my PCI wiresess
>card. I have a removable antenna with the reverse polarity SMA
>connectors.

So, you're going to make an extension by disassembling an antenna and
adding additional coax cable between the antenna and the connector?
That will work, but you have to be VERY good at soldering coax.

The guts of the antenna are essentially a piece of coax cable, so
you're going to be doing some splicing. The coax used in most of the
cheapo rubber ducky antennas is very small and very, very, very,
lossy. Any more than a few feet of the stuff is so lossy, that
methnks you're wasting your time.

>My question is where can I get the mini coax to make the
>cable.

I think it's RG-178 which is 0.072" (1.8mm) in diameter. There's also
1.13mm (0.044") diameter cable if want really tiny. Just search
Google for RG-178. Lots of vendors stock it.

>I have priced the various aftermarket extension that are out
>there but am concerned with both cost and signal loss should I have to
>connect more than 1 cable together to reach the desired location.

Have you considered looking at the specifications for such tiny cable?
At 2.4Ghz, the loss is about 4dB/ft. That means you lose half your
power for every 9 inches of this cable. How far were you planning to
run it?

>Also,
>what is the proper name/ industry name for this cable. May I say thank
>you in advance for any suggestions or help that you can provide.

My guess(tm) is RG-178 which I think (not sure) is the same as
Mil-C17/093. There are also non-standard miniature coax cables
available. For example:
<http://www.texcal.us/coaxial-cable/50ohm1.html>
Search Google for "mini coax" or "miniature coaxial cable".

Suggestion: Leave the antenna alone and just buy the extension cable.

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